Dorset Stour

Question 1

What 3 counties does the Dorset Stour run through?

Answer 1

Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset

Question 2

Where is the source of the Dorset Stour?

Answer 2

Stour head, Wiltshire

Question 3

Give 2 tributaries of the Dorset Stour

Answer 3

River Allen, River Cale

Question 4

What area does the Dorset Stour drain?

Answer 4

1240km

Question 5

How long is the river stour?

Answer 5

96km

Question 6

How far does the Dorset Stour descend?

Answer 6

230m

Question 7

How do tributaries impact hydrology of the Dorset Stour?

Answer 7

shorter lag time, more water enters the river faster through river channels

Question 8

Describe the geology of the Dorset Stour

Answer 8

upper: impermeable Oolite Clay
middle: chalk down land
lower: Eocene, semi-permeable clay

Question 9

What process occurs on the chalk down lands?

Answer 9

Soil creep

Question 10

What is meant by thin soil?

Answer 10

poor quality, eroded easily

Question 11

Give an example of an SSSI impacted by the Dorset Stour?

Answer 11

Dorset Heaths

Question 12

How many people live in the Dorset Stour catchment?

Answer 12

400,000

Question 13

How many people live in Bournemouth?

Answer 13

168,000

Question 14

What 2 organisations form the Stour catchment initiative (SCI)?

Answer 14

Wessex Water and Dorset Wildlife trust

Question 15

How much does Wessex Water fund the SCI each year?

Answer 15

£75,000

Question 16

What did the EA river restoration plan suggest?

Answer 16

• catchment sensitive farming
• afforestation
• removal of hard engineering

Question 17

What was previously done to the Stour by humans?

Answer 17

• dredging
• channel alignment/straightening